Joshua 19:2 kjv
And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, and Sheba, and Moladah,
Joshua 19:2 nkjv
They had in their inheritance Beersheba (Sheba), Moladah,
Joshua 19:2 niv
It included: Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah,
Joshua 19:2 esv
And they had for their inheritance Beersheba, Sheba, Moladah,
Joshua 19:2 nlt
Simeon's homeland included Beersheba, Sheba, Moladah,
Joshua 19 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 49:7 | "Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob, and disperse them in Israel." | Jacob's prophecy of Simeon's dispersal/scatter. |
| Num 1:23 | "those listed for the tribe of Simeon were 59,300." | Census of Simeon before entering Canaan. |
| Num 26:14 | "These are the clans of the Simeone. 22,200." | Reduced numbers of Simeon at later census. |
| Deut 33:8 | Moses omits blessing Simeon directly. | Indicates Simeon's diminished standing. |
| Jos 15:21, 26, 28-29 | Lists cities in the southernmost district of Judah's territory, including Beer-sheba, Moladah. | Shows overlapping with Judah's allocation. |
| Judg 1:3 | "And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot." | Simeon relying on Judah for support. |
| 1 Chr 4:28-32 | "They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual... and their villages." | Simeon's settlements confirmed later. |
| 1 Ki 19:3 | "But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. He prayed that he might die..." | Elijah's flight to Beer-sheba, a known place. |
| Amos 5:5 | "But do not seek Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, or cross over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing." | Later prophetic warning against idolatry at Beer-sheba. |
| Amos 8:14 | "Those who swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, 'As your god lives, O Dan,' and 'As the way of Beersheba lives,' they shall fall and never rise again." | Warning against idolatry tied to cultic sites. |
| Gen 13:15 | "For all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever." | God's initial land promise to Abraham. |
| Deut 1:8 | "See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their offspring after them." | Fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. |
| Psa 16:6 | "The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance." | Davidic psalm on the goodness of divine inheritance. |
| Heb 11:8 | "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." | Faith in receiving promised inheritance. |
| Jos 14:2 | "Their inheritance was by lot, as the Lord had commanded through Moses for the nine and a half tribes." | Land distribution by divine guidance. |
| Exod 32:13 | "Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” | God's faithfulness to the covenant promise. |
| Ezek 48:24-25 | Describes a future allocation of land for Simeon. | Prophetic vision of renewed tribal land. |
| Zech 14:10 | "All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem shall be raised up and inhabit its place, from Benjamin’s Gate to the place of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses." | Implied southernmost boundary of the renewed land (Rimmon). |
| Rev 21:10-14 | The foundations of the new Jerusalem have the names of the twelve tribes. | Foreshadowing a complete, divinely ordered inheritance. |
| Jer 32:21 | "And you brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and with great terror." | Reminder of God's power in fulfilling promises. |
| Isa 54:3 | "For you shall spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring shall possess the nations and will inhabit the desolate cities." | Promise of expansive inheritance and prosperity. |
| Phil 3:20 | "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ," | Christian concept of spiritual inheritance/citizenship. |
Joshua 19 verses
Joshua 19 2 Meaning
Joshua 19:2 lists the initial three cities belonging to the tribal inheritance of Simeon within the larger territory of Judah: Beer-sheba, Sheba, and Moladah. This verse marks the beginning of Simeon's allocated portion of the Promised Land, a divinely appointed possession fulfilling ancient promises.
Joshua 19 2 Context
Joshua 19 details the allocation of land to the remaining seven tribes of Israel through lots at Shiloh, following the initial assignments to Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Simeon's inheritance is particularly noteworthy because it is explicitly stated to be within the larger territory allotted to Judah (Jos 19:1, 9). This reflects a diminished status for Simeon, likely a consequence of Jacob's prophecy against Simeon and Levi (Gen 49:5-7) due to their violent massacre in Shechem (Gen 34). While Levi received cities among all tribes as priests, Simeon received a land portion integrated within Judah, signaling its eventual absorption and reduced autonomy. The verse lists three of Simeon's primary cities, indicating their portion in the semi-arid southern Negeb region. This precise allocation confirms God's faithful fulfillment of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give the land of Canaan to their descendants.
Joshua 19 2 Word analysis
- And they had: Signifies possession and the result of the land distribution process. The possession is divinely appointed and legally conveyed, not obtained by conquest by Simeon alone.
- in their inheritance:
- Hebrew: bᵊnaḥălātām (בְּנַחֲלָתָם).
- naḥălāh (נַחֲלָה): This term refers to an inheritance, heritage, or possession. In a theological sense, it often denotes a divine allocation or a promised patrimony. It is a portion allotted by God. This emphasizes that the land was a gift from God, not something earned or entirely conquered by human effort. It carries deep theological weight, linking the physical possession of the land to God's covenant promises (Exod 6:8; Deut 1:38).
- Beer-sheba:
- Hebrew: Bə’ēr Shevaʿ (בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע).
- Meaning: "Well of the Oath" or "Well of Seven."
- Significance: A critically important ancient city in the extreme south of Judah, marking the southernmost boundary of Israel ("from Dan to Beer-sheba," Judg 20:1). It was a significant locale for the patriarchs, where Abraham (Gen 21:31) and Isaac (Gen 26:33) made covenants and built altars, indicating its deep historical and religious significance. Its inclusion in Simeon's lot places a foundational historical landmark within this lesser tribe's reach. Later, Beer-sheba also became a center for illicit worship, highlighting the constant struggle against idolatry, even in religiously significant places (Amos 5:5).
- and Sheba:
- Hebrew: wəŠevaʿ (וְשֶׁבַע).
- Meaning: Could mean "oath" or "seven."
- Significance: Its presence immediately after Beer-sheba is debated. Some scholars suggest it might be an explanatory doublet of "Beer-sheba" (the "sheba" part of Beer-sheba repeated) or a distinct, very closely associated hamlet. Other ancient texts and later recensions sometimes omit it or connect it directly to Beer-sheba, implying "Beer-sheba, with its settlement called Sheba." However, the Masoretic Text includes it, indicating a separate listing for a very minor place, perhaps reflecting Simeon's modest allocation. Its independent listing points to the meticulous detail in the tribal allocations, however small the town.
- and Moladah:
- Hebrew: ūMôlādâ (וּמוֹלָדָה).
- Meaning: Likely "birth" or "place of birth."
- Significance: A town located in the Negeb, appearing in other lists of towns in Judah's southern territory (Jos 15:26). It was resettled by Jews returning from Babylonian exile (Neh 11:26), testifying to its continued existence. Its inclusion further delineates the semi-arid, southern reaches of Simeon's inheritance, a less fertile region compared to the central highlands.
- Words-group: Beer-sheba, and Sheba, and Moladah: These three names establish the geographical anchor points for Simeon's initial designated territory. They represent southern frontier settlements. The precise listing emphasizes the tangible reality of God's covenant fulfillment through concrete geographical details, ensuring there could be no doubt regarding the promised inheritance. The listing of specific towns underlines the legal and administrative nature of the division of the land under Joshua.
Joshua 19 2 Bonus section
The geographical overlap of Simeon's inheritance within Judah’s land can be understood in light of Judah's strategic role. It allowed Simeon, a smaller and historically troubled tribe, to rely on the stronger tribe of Judah for defense and integration, thus mitigating the prophecy of scattering into a more managed 'scattering within Israel.' Later history confirms Simeon’s eventual absorption into Judah, with explicit mentions of their people dwelling in Judah (1 Chr 4:31). This arrangement can be seen as God's mercy tempering judgment, allowing Simeon to maintain identity within the larger family of Israel, rather than being entirely lost. The detailed lists of cities also highlight the precise fulfillment of divine promises, demonstrating God's sovereignty over the very boundaries and possessions of His people.
Joshua 19 2 Commentary
Joshua 19:2 concisely details the very beginning of the inheritance for the tribe of Simeon. The phrase "in their inheritance" underscores that this possession was a divinely granted heritage, fulfilling ancient covenant promises to the patriarchs regarding the land of Canaan. Simeon's portion, notably situated within Judah's larger territory, reflects the long-standing prophecy of Jacob concerning their scattered or diminished status due to their past violence. Beer-sheba, a name imbued with deep patriarchal history and significance ("Well of the Oath"), being part of Simeon's lot, paradoxically grants a smaller tribe control over a key historical marker. The inclusion of "Sheba," possibly a distinct village or an echo of Beer-sheba itself, along with "Moladah," further specifies the region: the southern Negeb, often characterized by a challenging environment. This verse, therefore, is not merely a geographic enumeration; it is a profound testament to God's meticulous fulfillment of promises, even as it reflects the consequences of human actions on a tribe's destiny within the divine plan. It signifies a completed act of divine provision and legal allotment for one of Israel's twelve tribes.